Thigh exercise fitness machine

ABSTRACT

A thigh exercise fitness machine for training outer thigh muscles is a disclosed to include a first base member and a second base member pivotally connected in parallel, a first sliding track and a second sliding track respectively connected to the first base member and the second base member and extending in reversed directions, a first foot plate assembly and a second foot plate member respectively slidably supported on the first sliding track and the second sliding track, two elastic loops respectively coupled between the first foot plate assembly and second foot plate assembly and the first base member and second base member and adapted to store elastic potential energy when the first and second foot plate assemblies are respectively moved along the first and second sliding tracks, enabling the user&#39;s lateral thigh muscles to be trained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to exercise equipment and more particularly, to a thigh exercise fitness machine for training thigh muscles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various exercise machines for exercising muscles of different parts of the body are commercially available. Among these exercise machines, treadmill, stepper and elliptical machines are most common for leg exercises. However, these exercise machines are commonly designed for training the front and back leg muscles.

Leg exercise fitness machines for training the lateral leg muscles can be seen in, for example, Taiwan Patent Numbers M363311 and M381424. These leg exercise fitness machines are designed for enabling the user to step on two foot plates and to move the foot plates along a sliding rail so as to train the lateral thigh muscles. However, these leg exercise fitness machines simply allow users to make a sliding movement along a fixed track, not allow users to change the sliding track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a thigh exercise fitness machine for training thigh muscles, which allows adjustment of the motion track subject to user's requirements.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a thigh exercise fitness machine, which is practical for training the lateral thigh muscles.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a thigh exercise fitness machine, which is folding collapsible and convenient for storage.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a thigh exercise fitness machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a first base member and a second base member pivotally connected in parallel, a first sliding track and a second sliding track respectively connected to the first base member and the second base member and extending in reversed directions, a first foot plate assembly and a second foot plate member respectively slidably supported on the first sliding track and the second sliding track, and two elastic loops respectively coupled between the first foot plate assembly and second foot plate assembly and the first base member and second base member and adapted to store elastic potential energy when the first and second foot plate assemblies are respectively moved along the first and second sliding tracks.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational view of a thigh exercise fitness machine in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the thigh exercise fitness machine in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the thigh exercise fitness machine in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, illustrating the locking device locked.

FIG. 4B is similar to FIG. 4A but illustrating the locking device unlocked.

FIG. 5A is an applied view of the present invention, illustrating the two foot plate assemblies moved toward each other.

FIG. 5B is another applied view of the present invention, illustrating the two foot plate assemblies moved in the reversed directions.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating the first base member and the second base member biased relative to each other.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating a collapsed condition of the thigh exercise fitness machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a thigh exercise fitness machine in accordance with the present invention is shown. The thigh exercise fitness machine 1 comprises a first base member 10, a second base member 20, a first sliding track 30 and a second sliding track 40, a first foot plate assembly 50, a second foot plate assembly 60, two elastic loops 70, a locking device 80, and a positioning device 90.

The first base member 10 comprises a first body 11, a first pivotable part 12 and a first axle 13. The first body 11 comprises a first accommodation chamber 14, a receiving chamber 15, and a first connection block 16. The first pivotable part 12 is pivotally connected to two opposite sides in the first accommodation chamber 14 of the first body 11 by the first axle 13, enabling the first pivotable part 12 to be biased relative to the first body 11. The first connection block 16 comprises a first mounting hole 161, and a through hole 162 formed at the center of the first mounting hole 161. The first mounting hole 161 has an inner thread formed on the inside wall thereof (not shown). A locating notch 17 is formed on the lateral wall of the receiving chamber 15. Further, a top hole 18 is located at the top side of the first body 11 in communication with the receiving chamber 15. Further, the first accommodation chamber 14 has two stopper grooves 141 defined therein.

The second base member 20 is arranged in a parallel manner relative to the first base member 10, comprising a second body 21, second pivotable part 22 and a second axle 23. The second body 21 comprises a second accommodation chamber 24, and a second connection block 25 stacked on the first connection block 16 of the first base member 10. The second pivotable part 22 is pivotally connected to two opposite sides in the second accommodation chamber 24 by the second axle 23, enabling the second pivotable part 22 to be biased relative to the second body 21. The second connection block 25 comprises a second mounting hole 251, and a through hole 252 formed at the center of the second mounting hole 251. The second body 21 has locating hole 26 located at one lateral side of the second body 21 opposite to the second connection block 25. The second accommodation chamber 24 defines two stopper grooves 241 therein.

The first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40 are respectively fixedly connected to one lateral side of the first pivotable part 12 and one lateral side of the second pivotable part 22 and extending outward in horizontal. The first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40 each comprise a plurality of stop members 31 located at the bottom side thereof. The stop members 31 are anti-slip foot pads having a certain thickness (height). The first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40 each have two locating blocks 32 mounted at one end thereof and adapted to support the first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40.

The first foot plate assembly 50 or second foot plate assembly 60 comprises a first foot plate holder 51 or second foot plate holder 61, a first foot plate 52 or second foot plate 21 mounted at the top side of the first foot plate holder 51 or second foot plate holder 61, a pulley 53 or 62 pivotally mounted at the bottom side of the first foot plate holder 51 or second foot plate holder 61 on the middle, two coupling members 54 or 64, and a plurality of rollers 55 or 65. The coupling members 54 or 64 are respectively pivotally coupled to the first sliding track 30 or second sliding track 40, allowing sliding movement of the rollers 55 or 65 on the first sliding track 30 or second sliding track 40 to carry the first foot plate assembly 50 or second foot plate assembly 60 back and forth along the first sliding track 30 or second sliding track 40. The stop members 31 of the first sliding track 30 or second sliding track 40 are adapted to limit the sliding range of the first foot plate assembly 50 or second foot plate assembly 60.

The two elastic loops 70 each have one end thereof accommodated in the first accommodation chamber 14 or second accommodation chamber 24 and secured to the stopper groove 141 or 241 in the first accommodation chamber 14 or second accommodation chamber 24 and the other end thereof supported on the pulley 53 or 63 at the first foot plate holder 51 or second foot plate holder 61 so that the two elastic loops 70 are stretched in triangular shape and, when the first and second foot plate assemblies 50 and 60 are respectively received to the respective inner ends of the first and second sliding track 30 and 40, the two elastic loops 70 do not fall to the ground; when the first and second foot plate assemblies 50 and 60 are respectively moved along the first and second sliding track 30 and 40, the two elastic loops 70 impart a resisting force to the outward movement of the first and second foot plate assemblies 50 and 60 and store an elastic potential energy for auto return.

The locking device 80 comprises a locking bolt 81 and a spring member 82. The locking bolt 81 comprises a head 811, a finger plate 812 located at the top side of the head 811, a shoulder 813 located at the opposing bottom side of the head 811, and a shank 814 axially downwardly extended from the bottom side of the shoulder 813 opposite to the head 811. The diameter of the shoulder 813 is larger than the diameter of the shank 814. Further, the shank 814 is externally threaded, i.e., the shank 814 is made in the form of a screw rod. The spring member 82 is mounted around the shoulder 813 and shank 814 of the locking bolt 81. The head 811 of the locking bolt 81 is received in the second mounting hole 251 of the second connection block 25. The shoulder 813 and the shank 814 are inserted through the internally threaded through hole 252 of the second connection block 25 and the through hole 162 of the first connection block 16, and the shank 814 is received in the internally threaded through hole 252 of the second connection block 25. The spring member 82 has a part thereof received in the internally threaded through hole 252 of the second connection block 25 and the other part thereof received in and stopped at the first mounting hole 161. The shank 814 is partially threaded into the internally threaded through hole 252 of the second connection block 25. When the locking bolt 81 is rotated downwardly to the extent where the bottom side of the head 811 of the locking bolt 81 is stopped against the second mounting hole 251 of the second connection block 25, the first connection block 16 and the second connection block 25 are locked together. On the contrary, rotating the locking bolt 81 upward to unlock the first base member 10 and the second base member 20 allows the first connection block 16 and the second connection block 25 to be biased relative to each other.

The positioning device 90 comprises a positioning member 91 and a rocker button 92. The positioning member 91 comprises a hook portion 911 and a linking portion 912. The positioning member 91 is positioned in the receiving chamber 15 of the first body 11, allowing the hook portion 911 to be extended out of the locating notch 17 and the locating hole 26 of the second body 21 and hooked on the bottom side of the second body 21. The rocker button 92 is disposed above the top hole 18 of the first body 11 and coupled with the linking portion 912 of the positioning member 91. By means of pressing the front or rear side of the rocker button 92 to move the hook portion 911 of the positioning member 91 upward or downward, the hook portion 911 will be forced into engagement with or disengaged from the second body 21.

After understanding of the structural details of the thigh exercise fitness machine, the operation of the thigh exercise fitness machine is outlined hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the user steps on the first foot plate 52 and the second foot plate 62 and moves the first foot plate assembly 50 and the second foot plate assemble 60 outwardly along the first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40, the two elastic loops 70 impart a pressure against the outward sliding movement of the first foot plate assembly 50 and the second foot plate assemble 60; when the user releases the pressure from the first foot plate assembly 50 and the second foot plate assemble 60, the elastic potential energy stored by the elastic loops 70 automatically pull the first foot plate assembly 50 and the second foot plate assemble 60 backwardly toward each other. Repeating the aforesaid steps, the user's lateral thigh muscles are trained.

Referring to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 4A and 4B again, the user can press the rocker button 92 to disengage the hook portion 911 of the positioning member 91 from the second body 21, and then loosen the locking bolt 81 of the locking device 80 to unlock the first base member 10 and the second base member 20, and then bias the first base member 10 relative to the first connection block 16 and the second base member 20 relative to the second connection block 25 horizontally to any desired angular position within the range of 0˜180-degrees angle. After adjustment, fasten tight the locking bolt 81 to lock the first base member 10 and the second base member 20 in the adjusted position. Thus, the first base member 10 and the second base member 20 can be adjusted to a suitable angular position subject to requirements of different users for different motion tracks.

Referring to FIG. 7 again, when the thigh exercise fitness machine is not in use, the first pivotable part 12 and the second pivotable part 22 can be respectively turned about the first axle 13 and the second axle 23, enabling the first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40 to be folded up and collapsed.

In conclusion, the thigh exercise fitness machine allows adjustment of the contained angle between the first base member and the second base member to change the sliding direction of each foot plate assembly, and therefore the user can adjust the motion track subject to personal needs, achieving optimal training of the lateral thigh muscles. Further, after each application, the thigh exercise fitness machine can be folded up and collapsed, facilitating storage. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thigh exercise fitness machine, comprising: a first base member and a second base member arranged in parallel, said first base member and said second base member each having one end thereof pivotally connected to each other such that said first base member and said second base member are horizontally biasable relative to each other between a close condition and an open condition; a first sliding track and a second sliding track respectively and fixedly connected to one side of said first base member and one side of said second base member and horizontally extending in reversed directions; a first foot plate assembly and a second foot plate assembly respectively mounted at and movable along said first sliding track and said second sliding track; and two elastic loops respectively coupled between said first foot plate assembly and said first base member and between said second foot plate assembly and said second base member and adapted to store an elastic potential energy when said first foot plate assembly and said second foot plate assembly are respectively moved along said first sliding track and said second sliding track in direction away from said first base member and said second base member.
 2. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mounting structure adapted to pivotally coupled one end of said first base member and one end of said second base member together in such a manner that said first base member and said second base member are horizontally biasable relative to each other between said close condition and said open condition, said mounting structure comprising a first connection block located at said first base member, a second connection block located at said second base member and pivotally connected to said first connection block and biasable relative to said first connection block horizontally within the range of 0˜180-degrees angle, and a locking device adapted for locking said first connection block and said second connection block in a selected angular position within said range of 0˜180-degrees angle.
 3. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a positioning device mounted at said first base member, said positioning device comprising a positioning member and a rocker button, said positioning member comprising a hook portion and a linking portion, said rocker button being coupled with said linking portion and operable to move said hook portion of said positioning member up and down between a first position where said hook portion is hooked on said second base member and a second position where said hook portion is released from said second base member.
 4. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein when said first base member and said second base member are moved relative to each other to define zero contained angle therebetween, said hook portion of said positioning member is hooked on said second base member to secure said first base member and said second base member firmly together.
 5. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first foot plate assembly and said second foot plate assembly each comprise a plurality of rollers arranged at a bottom side thereof and respectively rotatably supported on said first sliding track and said second sliding track to guide sliding movement of said first foot plate assembly and said second foot plate assembly on said first sliding track and said second sliding track respectively.
 6. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first sliding track and said second sliding track each comprise a plurality of bottom stop members located at a bottom side thereof and adapted to limit the sliding range of said first foot plate assembly and said second foot plate assembly on said first sliding track and said second sliding track.
 7. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bottom stop members are anti-slip foot pads.
 8. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first base member comprises a first body, a first pivoting part and a first axle; said second base member comprises a second body, a second pivotable part and a second axle; said first sliding track and said second sliding track are respectively fixedly connected to said first pivotable part and said second pivotable part; said first pivotable part and said second pivotable part are respectively pivotally coupled to said first body and said second body by said first axle and said second axle such that said first body and said second body are movable relative to each other to fold up said first sliding track and said second sliding track.
 9. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first base member comprises a first accommodation chamber, and two stopper grooves disposed in said first accommodation chamber; said second base member comprises a second accommodation chamber, and two stopper grooves disposed in said second accommodation chamber; said first foot plate assembly and said second foot plate assembly each comprise a pulley pivotally located at a bottom side thereof; said two elastic loops each have one end thereof respectively received ins aid first accommodation chamber and said second accommodation chamber and secured to the respective said stopper grooves and an opposite end thereof respectively mounted around the pulley of said first foot plate assembly and the pulley of said second foot plate assembly so that said elastic loops are stretched into a triangular shape. 